NAFO SC Studies No. 43 (2010)

Sponge Identification Guide NAFO Area

(pdf 2.3 MB)

M. Best¹, E. Kenchington¹, K. MacIsaac¹, V. Wareham², S. D. Fuller³, and A. B. Thompson⁴

¹Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
²Fisheries and Oceans, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Center, St John’s,
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
³Biology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
⁴NAFO Secretariat, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

M. Best, Kenchington, E., K. MacIsaac, V. Wareham, S. D. Fuller, and A. B. Thompson. 2010. Sponge Identification Guide NAFO Area. Sci. Coun. Studies, 43: 1-50. doi:10.2960/S.v43.m1

Abstract

Accurate reporting of sponges is increasingly important for mapping distributions and for the continued development of sustainable fisheries under the ecosystem approach. This Sponge Identification Guide is intended to help those on-board commercial and research fishing vessels to identify and record the various species of sponges likely to be commonly encountered in fishing trawls in the NRA. The guide is clear and simple to use, and will provide names to the majority of these bottom dwelling animals. The photographs are typically of caught specimens as seen on the deck.